Teacher caught outside wearing just ski cap, goggles, police say

By Keith Ferguson

A Norfolk Country Agricultural High School teacher was arrested Wednesday for allegedly spending his day off from school walking around his driveway wearing nothing but a ski cap and goggles, according to Walpole police.

Police received calls from women passing-by Marc Mertz’s home at 465 North St. on Monday that the 44-year-old was exposing himself, officers said.

The first call came at about 8 a.m. on Martin Luther King Jr. Day from a woman who reportedly saw Mertz in his driveway wearing just a ski cap, goggles and a towel, Wicked Local/Walpole reported.

In her return trip, the woman allegedly told police the man was still there but, this time, had lost the towel and was completely naked except for the headwear.

Officers said they saw Mertz walk into the home wearing a towel when they arrived.

When speaking to him, Mertz reportedly said he was wearing a towel the whole time along with the hat and goggles.

About two hours later, police returned to the home when another witness said she saw Mertz naked in his driveway, officers said. She reportedly told police the man made no attempts to conceal himself and thrust his hips onto his mailbox as she drove by.

The witness was able to describe Mertz in great detail, according to police, calling the man burly with a paunch and dark facial and body hair.

Police received a warrant based off the witness descriptions, said Deputy Police Chief John Carmichael, and arrested Mertz on charges of open and gross lewdness and disturbing the peace at about 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

Mertz is a forestry teacher at Norfolk County Agricultural High School in Walpole. Aggie Superintendent Suzanne Green declined comment about the arrest.

Carmichael said there hadn’t been any criminal behavior involving Mertz reported at the school.

Natick police spoke to Mertz in June of 2012 for allegedly exposing himself to boaters on Lake Cochituate , Carmichael said, but he was not charged.

Mertz appeared to be in a “solid state of mind” when speaking with police on Monday, according to officers.

Police said Mertz was released following an arraignment at Wrentham District Court.